REPORT OF MESSAGE CENTER OPERATIONS 1 - 31 MARCH 1954

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00499R000600040043-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 10, 2002
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: April 5, 1954
• Content Type: MF

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MEMORANDUM FOR:
SECRET
5 April 1954
SUBJECT : Report of Message Center Operations
1 - 31 March 1954
1. Cables Processed
a. The Cable Secretariat reproduced and distributed a total
of 13, 148 cables during the month of March 1954. This figure re-
presents an increase of 16.3% over the number of cables handled
during February 1954, and 13.3% under the number handled in the
month of March 1953. We understand that total word volume for
March was approximately 18.1% more than February total. Tab A
compares March totals with those of February and provides a
tabulated account of DWI Suspense Items for the month.
b. Cables briefed for, and distributed to the Director totaled
708 or 5.4% of total volume handled.
. Personnel
25X1A a. We lost one typist and gained two couriers, which com-
pletes the courier unit of the Cable Secretariat.
b. are now attending
25X1A the Rapid Reading Course given by the Office of Training.
C.
mated to CS-11.
3. General
one of our Duty Officers, was pro-
a. A physical security inspection was made of the Cable
25X1A Secretariat offices by of Office of Communi-
cations (Security). A report of his findings is attached.
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b. Cat 30 March, representing the DWI,
reviewed one day's traffic from March totaling approximately 324
incoming cables. Cl this total, one cable was found which fell
within the requirements of DD/1.
c. A current 5 x 8 card file of Cabinet personnel and in-
dividuals in the higher echelons of the diplomatic corps of the major
governments of the world was furnished us in accordance with our
request to the This will be a great help to the Duty
Officers in briefing cables for the Director.
visited the office on 30 March and I expressed to him our
appreciation for the file.
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d. Informal _coordination was practically completed on
Cable Regulation
d the Cable Handbook We plan 25X1A
25X1A to submit the Regulation Ifor formal coordination this week,
25X1A The Handbook need not be coordinated formally and I hope to get it
to Publications in the next two weeks.
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e. The Management Improvement Staff completed its study
on pouchgram procedures and submitted it formally to the Cable Sec-
retariat. In summary, the study recommends that every effort be
made to improve present dispatch procedures and that only after all
such efforts had failed is an experiment on a pouch recommended.
I have referred the study to DD/P-Adrnin for such action as they may
care to take with reference to dispatch handling procedures. Mr.
in commenting upon the study, indicated that he still felt an
experimental period would prove the feasibility of a pouchgram. I
have agreed with to conduct an experiment to determine
whether it is feasible and will serve any useful purpose to have a
pauchgram. (For your information, a pouchgrarn may be loosely
defined as a form of communications written on a cable form, using
cable language, and coordinated, released and distributed as a cable
but sent by pouch.)
1. During the month I discussed with Mr. Stufflebeam, the
Chief of the Division of Communications and Records, Department
of State, the means by which State Department was able to effect the
reduction in cable traffic. The gist of this conversation was for-
warded to you in a memorandum dated 16 March 1954. Subsequently,
I met with to discuss this same problem. DD/P is making a
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drive to effect a reduction in cable traffic and are going to use pos-
ters, handouts, etc. in much the same manner and for the same
purpose that they were employed by the Department of State.
g. Because of numerous and repeated complaints from the 25X1A
girls that the soap furnished by General Services to remove ditto
was causing their hands and arms to break out in a rash, 25X1A
together with the girls saw Based on a certificate
from that the soap was apparently the cause of the
rash, we are purchasing a much better grade of soap.
telegrams was submitted to Publications for formal coordina-
/' bility for processing such cables from the Signal Center to Cable
am and publication. This is the regulation that transfers Ii. concerning concerning the handling of unclassi-
_
Secretariat.
Cable Secretary
Attachments: Tab A
As mentioned in Para 3a.
SECRET
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TRAFFIC SUMMARY FOR MARCH 1954
CABLES PROCESSED
TYPE
March 1954
February 1954
Increase
IN Cables
8.827
7.607
1 220
OUT Cables
4.321
3.701
620
TOTALS
13.148
11.308
1,840
March
382
PRELIMINARY DISSEMINATIONS
PROCESSED
February
177
CABLES FURNISHED DCI
Increase
205
Cables briefed for and distributed to DCI totaled 708 or 5.4% of total
volume handled. This compares to 699 or 6.1% for the month of
February.
CABLES SUSPENDED OR FURNISHED DD/I
a. DurIng March 1954. 193 cables were suspended to the DWI;
the following actions were taken:
Distribution of copies to DD/I. AD/CI and FI/RQM 82
Preliminary Disseminations Prepared 67
Teletype Disseminations to OCI 17
Intelligence furnished DD/I and OC1 by Action Offices 8
Recommendations that no dissemination be made to 19
DD/I
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NOTE: The 19 cables which were not disseminated to DEVI were
incorrectly suspended. While this number (19) is higher
than any previous month, it is not too high in relation to
the larger number of items suspended and eventually fur-
nished DD/I.
b. A total of 1112cables and PDs was furnished DD/I. This
Includes copies of incoming cables which were subsequently fur-
nished again as PD..
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